Should You Visit Buxton or Leek?

Ideally, we'd say visit both.

But if you only have time for one, the best choice depends on what sort of day you're looking for.

Distance from Hartington

Hartington Hills sits between Hartington and Hulme End, close to the border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

That puts us in a particularly convenient position for reaching both towns.

Buxton and Leek are both within roughly 10 miles of Hartington Hills, along with Bakewell and Ashbourne.

Peak District driving times are always worth treating with a little flexibility.

The roads are rural, and tractors, cyclists, sheep and summer traffic occasionally have their own thoughts about your carefully planned arrival time.

But both towns are close enough to make easy half-day or full-day trips.

What Each Town Offers

Choose Buxton if you're looking for:

• Historic architecture
• Gardens
• Theatre and entertainment
• Poole's Cavern
• Cafés and restaurants
• High-street and independent shops
• A classic spa-town atmosphere

Choose Leek if you prefer:

• Independent shopping
• Traditional markets
• Antiques and vintage finds
• Historic architecture
• Cafés and pubs
• Local food and produce
• Easy access to the Staffordshire Moorlands

Buxton generally has more major visitor attractions, while Leek is particularly good for a relaxed day of wandering, shopping and eating.

Choosing According to the Weather

Both towns are excellent options when the weather isn't cooperating.

Buxton probably has the edge on a truly wet day.

You can visit Poole's Cavern, browse shops, stop for lunch or coffee, explore some of the historic buildings and perhaps book a performance at Buxton Opera House.

Leek's indoor markets and independent shops also make it useful when you want to escape the rain.

If the weather improves during the day, both towns are surrounded by countryside, so you can easily add a walk afterwards.

Have a look at our 5 Best Things to Do in the Peak District When It Rains for more ideas if your original hiking itinerary has been comprehensively cancelled by the British weather.

Things to Do in Buxton

Buxton is one of the best-known towns in the Peak District area.

Its history as a spa town has left it with some magnificent architecture, and there's enough to do here to fill an entire day.

Pavilion Gardens and the Crescent

The Pavilion Gardens are a lovely place to start.

These historic gardens sit right in the centre of Buxton and provide acres of landscaped parkland to explore.

There are paths, lawns, water features and plenty of space to wander, making them particularly useful if you're visiting with children or simply fancy a gentle stroll rather than a serious Peak District hike.

Nearby you'll find some of Buxton's most famous architecture.

The magnificent Crescent is one of the town's defining landmarks and reflects Buxton's long history as a fashionable spa destination.

Close by are the Natural Mineral Baths, Pump Room and Old Hall Hotel.

This whole part of Buxton is worth exploring on foot.

Even if you're not particularly interested in architecture, it's difficult not to be impressed.

Poole’s Cavern

A short distance from the town centre is Poole's Cavern, one of the area's best-known show caves.

Visitors can explore the limestone cavern on guided tours, discovering enormous chambers, stalactites and stalagmites beneath the hills outside Buxton.

It's a particularly useful attraction on a wet day.

After all, once you're underground, the fact that it's raining outside becomes considerably less important.

Poole's Cavern is also beside Grin Low and Buxton Country Park.

If the weather is good, you can combine your cave tour with a walk through the woodland towards Solomon's Temple, which sits above the town and provides far-reaching views.

Check current tour times and booking arrangements before travelling, particularly during school holidays and busy weekends.

Opera House, Shops and Cafés

Buxton Opera House is another of the town's great landmarks.

The beautiful Edwardian theatre hosts a varied programme throughout the year, including theatre, music, comedy, dance and family entertainment.

If you're staying for several nights, it's worth checking what's on before your holiday.

An evening performance can be a lovely addition to a Peak District break—and makes a refreshing change from being in bed by 9.30pm because you've walked 12 miles.

Buxton also has a mixture of independent and familiar high-street shops alongside plenty of cafés, pubs and restaurants.

Spend a few hours exploring the streets around the town centre, stop for coffee and allow yourself time to wander rather than trying to rush between attractions.

Things to Do in Leek

Head in the opposite direction from Hartington Hills and you'll reach Leek.

Although it's sometimes overlooked by visitors heading straight into the National Park, we think that's a mistake.

Leek is a characterful historic market town and makes an excellent day out.

Markets and Independent Shops

One of Leek's biggest strengths is its independent shopping.

The town centre is filled with independent retailers, boutiques, cafés and specialist businesses, making it a lovely place for a slow wander.

It's also famous for its markets.

Leek's traditional Wednesday market spreads through the town centre, alongside its indoor Butter and Trestle Markets.

The Butter and Trestle Markets are currently open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while Saturdays also bring a vintage, collectors and craft market to the Market Place.

On the first Sunday of each month, Leek hosts its popular Sunday Supplement Market, bringing together local food, artisan producers and independent businesses.

If markets are one of the main reasons for your visit, check the latest dates and opening arrangements beforehand.

Market day also naturally means the town is busier, so bear that in mind when planning parking.

Local Heritage

Leek has a fascinating history.

It received its market charter in the early 13th century and later became particularly associated with the silk and textile industries.

That prosperity left the town with some wonderful architecture.

One of the most influential local figures was architect William Sugden, whose work helped shape the appearance of Victorian Leek.

The Nicholson Institute is one of the town's landmark historic buildings and traditionally houses the library, museum and art gallery.

At the time of writing, the building has undergone a major refurbishment, with work completed and reopening planned for autumn 2026.

If you're reading this after then, check the latest opening information before visiting.

Even without going inside, Leek is a good town simply to explore on foot.

Look upwards as you wander.

Some of the most interesting details are above the shopfronts.

Food and Cafés

Leek has plenty of places to eat, from traditional pubs to independent cafés and restaurants.

It's one of those towns where we'd recommend not planning lunch too rigidly.

Have a wander, look at menus and see what takes your fancy.

Market days are particularly good if you enjoy local food and produce.

And if you've spent several days camping, walking and cooking outside, there's something particularly enjoyable about somebody else making lunch and doing the washing up.

Simple pleasures.

Attractions Around the Two Towns

You don't necessarily need to choose between a town day and a countryside day.

Both Buxton and Leek are surrounded by excellent places to explore.

Staffordshire Moorlands

Leek is often described as a gateway to the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Travel north and east from the town and you'll quickly find yourself among some of the area's most dramatic landscapes.

The Roaches are perhaps the best-known example.

This dramatic gritstone ridge is popular with walkers and climbers and offers enormous views across the surrounding countryside.

Nearby you'll find places including Gradbach, the Dane Valley and the wooded landscape around Lud's Church.

These are excellent additions to a Leek day if the weather is good.

Or, better still, give them a separate day.

There's enough walking in this part of the Peak District to keep you occupied for considerably longer than one afternoon.

Walking and Reservoirs

Near Leek, Tittesworth Water provides another option for walking and spending time outdoors.

The reservoir sits beneath The Roaches and has walking routes, wildlife, picnic areas and visitor facilities.

It's a good choice if you'd like some countryside without committing to a more demanding hill walk.

You could spend the morning exploring Leek and head to Tittesworth for an afternoon walk.

Around Buxton, you have equally good options.

Grin Low and Solomon's Temple can be combined with Poole's Cavern, while the surrounding countryside provides access to many longer walking routes.

This ability to combine town and country is one of the reasons both places work so well during a camping holiday.

Indoor Attractions

If the forecast is firmly against outdoor activities, Buxton is probably the stronger choice.

Poole's Cavern provides a substantial indoor attraction, while the Opera House gives you the possibility of a matinee or evening performance.

The town also has plenty of cafés, shops and places to eat.

Leek's indoor markets make it a useful wet-weather destination too, particularly on Wednesday, Friday or Saturday.

And because both towns are relatively close to Hartington Hills, you don't necessarily need to commit to the whole day.

If the weather clears at lunchtime, change the plan.

One of the great joys of a camping holiday is not having an itinerary that needs approval from a committee.

Suggested Itineraries from Hartington Hills

If you're wondering how we'd actually spend the day, here are three easy options.

A Buxton Day

Start reasonably early and head into Buxton.

Spend the morning exploring the Pavilion Gardens, Crescent and historic centre.

Stop for coffee before heading to Poole's Cavern for a pre-booked tour.

If the weather is good, add a walk through Grin Low Country Park towards Solomon's Temple.

Then head back into town for a late lunch, shopping or a wander around the streets.

If there's something interesting showing at Buxton Opera House, you could even stay for an early evening performance before returning to Hartington Hills.

That's a very civilised Peak District day.

And not a pair of muddy walking boots in sight.

Unless you did Solomon's Temple.

A Leek Day

If you're visiting on a Wednesday, we'd head into Leek in the morning while the markets are in full swing.

Explore the outdoor market, Butter Market and Trestle Market before wandering through the independent shops.

Stop for lunch somewhere in town.

In the afternoon, either continue exploring Leek or head out towards Tittesworth Water for a walk.

If you're feeling more energetic and conditions are good, you could explore the wider Staffordshire Moorlands instead.

Saturday is another excellent day for Leek because of its markets, while the first Sunday of the month is particularly good for the Sunday Supplement Market.

Combining Town and Countryside

This is probably our favourite approach.

Choose one town and one outdoor activity.

For example:

Buxton + Poole's Cavern + Solomon's Temple

or

Leek + Tittesworth Water

That gives you the best of both worlds.

You can have coffee, browse shops and enjoy a proper lunch while still spending part of the day in the countryside.

It's particularly useful when the weather is changeable.

If it rains in the morning, explore the town.

If the clouds disappear after lunch, head outside.

And if it rains all day?

Find another café.

You're on holiday.

For more inspiration during your stay, browse our Things to Do pages.

Hartington Hills sits wonderfully between these two areas.

Head north and east and you'll reach Buxton and the Derbyshire side of the Peak District.

Head west and south and you're soon travelling into the Staffordshire Moorlands towards Leek.

That means your holiday doesn't have to revolve entirely around countryside walks.

You can spend one day exploring a limestone dale, another cycling an old railway trail and the next browsing a market in Leek or wandering through Pavilion Gardens in Buxton.

If you'd prefer to enjoy all of that before returning to something a little more luxurious than a tent, our Holiday Cottages make a lovely base too.

And whichever direction you're travelling, have a look at our Find Us information before setting off or returning to Hartington Hills.

Our rural location is part of what makes the site so peaceful.

It also means your sat nav occasionally sees a tiny country lane and thinks:

"Yes. That looks perfect."

We don't always agree.